Unplugged in the Backcountry

A few days in the backcountry in Banff National Park was just what Karen and I needed. Getting unplugged and immerse ourselves in fly fishing and nature is always welcome. We always feel recharged and happy! We are lucky we can hoist a pack full of our camping and fly fishing gear and hike. The rocky mountains call us all the time. We love getting off of the beaten path for a few precious days. We have been in the backcountry several times this summer. We appreciate every moment we can get enjoying one of the most spectacular places in the world. The amazing thing for us is the fact that the mountains are just a few hours from our front door! 

We have been to these lakes before. The fly fishing was amazing.

...and the best part, it was all dry fly fly fishing. Chernobyls rock!

The smokey sunset with larch in the foreground!

You have to celebrate a fabulous trip!

 

Good Things Come in Small Packages-Poison Tungs, Griffiths Gnats and Micro Chernobyls (PMD)

Happy Labour Day Everyone!

I wanted to share with you three neat little patterns that Karen and I have been successfully using in the west country on rivers. They are tiny and they are definitely fish catchers. The recent warm sunny weather has brought out lots of fly fishermen/women in the last 10 days or so. Trout will quickly get selective and cautious when they see flies of all sorts. I carry these three patterns and they have saved the day more than once. They are tiny and quite straight forward to tie. Take a look!

Charlie Craven is the originator of the Poison Tungsten Nymph. The blue rib on a grey body seems to get the attention of trout but you have to tie them small, real small. I like tying them sizes 18- 20. That will make my buddy Rick smile. Take a look below and see how Charlie Craven ties this simple little nymph!

Griffiths Gnats represent lots of things. Midges and at times, ants. Tie them small. They are simple to tie, because there are only 2 basic materials.

The micro chernobyl is a Bob Edens pattern. I think Bob developed these tiny offerings for the PMD hatch! I tie them size 18. They are straight forward to tie but hard to see on the water. So I often fly fish with these by adding a larger second fly as a sighter. I have also seen fly fishermen use a tiny piece of white packing foam about 2 feet ahead of the fly so they know where it is on the water. I like using a parachute adams with this fly trailing about 2 feet back.

Mini Me (Bob Edens originator)

Hook: TMC 200R size 18

Thread: Grey 8/0

Tag: Glo Bright orange or red (tiny)

Underbody: Oliver super fine dubbing (or just thread)

Body: Grey 2 mm foam

Legs: Small (just on front)

Sighter: 1 mm razor foam orange

Colin and his buddy Bruce enjoying the beautiful weather!

 

I Heard a Rumour

My  6 year old grandson wanted to know what the flies were in this small container. I told him water boatmen. He went and found his bug book and found the page. It was a very cool moment!

I have heard from two reliable sources that the beginnings of boatmen and backswimmers has started. I even saw a throat sample (thanks Adam).  With the exceptionally warm weather as of late, I wonder how this will go but as the water cools, this activity is always one of my favourite.

The throat sample above was a few short days ago! (Thanks Adam)

The samples below of both boatmen and backswimmers is to help you tie your imposters!

 

A Mad Dash to the West Country

In our house, family trumps everything. Karen and I have been staying close to home to help and lend much needed support to our family! We did, however,  have an opportunity to head west to do some cutthroat fly fishing and camping. We had one night so we tossed in the tent, fly fishing gear and the Coleman Stove. We crawled out of bed at 5:30 am and dashed. We both needed a break!

Once at our camping spot, we set up our tent and then loaded up our packs to hike and hopefully find some west slope cutthroat to cast to! The water flows were still a bit high and the water off colour! No matter, we were going to be on the water. Yahoo!

The fly fishing was fabulous. Karen and I happily covered lots of water and we shook hands with so many cutthroat. It was a welcome break. 

The best part of the fly fishing was it was mainly a dry fly game. Chernobyls, PMDs, Ants, and a variety of mayflies were on the menu and the constant changes kept us on our toes.  Karen and I loved fly fishing with two dry flies at a time. That was fun.The weather was perfect. Big blue sky for two days. Yep, we loved it!

Our mini break recharged our batteries. As everyone knows, life can be full of twists and turns! Fly fishing was a welcome distraction!

Hoppers were everywhere!

Cutts Love an Orange Crush Chernobyl

Yep, we nymphed early in the day until the dry fly action started!

I even broke out my bamboo rod. My bamboo rod reminded me to slow down and enjoy the moment!